Past President Arnie Biondo welcomed everyone to the Centerville Rotary Club and led reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Brian Hayes provided the prayer and Brad Thorp led singing of God Bless America.
Our exchange student, Enzyme shared her club flag with our club and Arnie presented her with a Centerville Rotary Club flag to take back to her club in Thailand. She returns home on June 8, after a wonderful year with us.
Today’s guests: Kaycee Kennard, granddaughter of Carol Kennard; Jake Hensel, soon to be inducted into the club.
Today’s quote provided by Don Overly: Start each day with a positive thought and a grateful heart.” By Roy T. Bennett (author of The Light in the Heart.
Thanks to today/s greeters Boyd Preston & Pichpattra Warapreuks (Enzyme).
Announcements:
- Aug 9 is Rotary at the Dayton Dragons game. See District website to purchase tickets. HERE
- Peace pole installation last week was great. Diversity Council Chair, Jason Riley was in attendance, along with Kristen Marks & Ken Carter from the Park District and Dottie Meade and other District leadership. WDTN did a nice story about it.
- Library Summer Reading Club program went well and the Pancake Pile Up game created by Bill Menker was a hit! Thanks to Bill, Sofie, Kelly and Arnie for working our booth.
- The community-wide clean up was yesterday, with Rotary volunteers spreading mulch at Forest Field Park.
- Food Drive for Foodbank 6/12. Drop off food at our Thursday meeting, or at Sofie’s house earlier if you can not make the meeting. Will be taken to Foodbank immediately after meeting.
- Asking for volunteers to stay after the meeting next week to make blankets
- Thanks to Adam for setting up the AV today and Brad H for getting the sound to work
- Leadership succession has changed due to work challenges: Adam Manning will take over as President in July. He is the club’s first 2nd term President! Uriah Anderson is stepping up as President-Elect and we are looking for a Vice President.
- Brian reminded all to pay your bill if you haven’t already.
Lee gave an expanded Farm Report while waiting to get the Zoom to work. Since last Thursday, we’ve had a great week of sunshine so lots of crops have now been planted. The first cutting of hay is done while corn and soybeans are starting to come up. It’s a good time to plant! Farmers experience problems with invasive Canadian thistle and honeysuckle. Crossbow herbicide is best to use, according to Lee.
Our Zoom speakers today were Ruth Bowling & George Lewis, sharing information on Rotary’s healing Partnership with Advent Health.
They shared information on how we are working together to help children with Cleft Palate
Ruth shared the hospital was trying to figure out how they could expand, and decided to partner with Rotary. They were looking for a long term sustainable program and the Rotary Global grant model helped establish the partnership.
Though the Sharing Smiles program of Advent Health, they have transformed the lives of more than 26,000 people by providing free facial reconstructive surgery, pediatric dentistry and pediatric rehabilitation services. Generous volunteers give the gift of a new smile to children in developing countries and help local health care providers establish long-term care.
Ruth shared about their work in Latin American - with a maternal/child health focus. Rotarians help by putting posters around town, social media, TV, radio, newspapers to promote the opportunity for child to participate in the smile-healing project. Families come because they trust Rotary.
Rotaract keeps families entertained while waiting for the child in surgery. Doctors and local therapists are screened and trained in Mexico.
Rotary provides clean water to hospital. Rotary provides meals to families, surgical gowns, and they do most everything except for the surgeries.
Families are provided bunk housing close by as they wait for their turn for surgery.
Parents will always remember Rotary and how we help change lives.
- Rotary brings healers to work together.
- Rotary Partners in Bolivia, Mexico, Peru
- Rotary changes children forever.
George Lewis said he has been involved with Rotary grants for over 20 years with a major emphasis on sustainability. The goal is to have four $100,000 grants in every year. George does paintings of people’s pets, and the proceeds help fund the next cleft grant. He established a $200 Cleft Club - to sponsor one child’s cleft surgery. He matches the individual donation, and then the RI grant also provides a match. His Club has sponsored 205 surgeries to date.
Happy Bucks this quarter will go to Operation Warm for winter coats for children.
Happy Bucks were generously given for:
- Ron worked at the Grotto, but then afterwards his car wouldn’t start because he had a bad battery
- Mike W was (sarcastically) happy for almost 40% attendance at today’s meeting.
- Bob was happy
- Brad H for Enzyme, and the Biondos for hosting. He noted they had a lovely farewell party for Enzyme.
- Crissy A for Enzyme
- Ray M missed several Rotary meetings, has been loosing hearing, so now has a new FM receiver on podium to better hear what’s being said
- Carol K was happy to have granddaughter Kaycee here on her big dance recital week, and thanked Enzyme for spending the year with us
- Adam M for Kaycee visiting
- Brian H for the birth of his granddaughter, Elliana Kate Hayes. Congrats, Brian!
- Gina S for her Mom’s bday, and her dad got mobile oxygen so he can get around better.
- Boyd P for Enzyme and it’s great to have Kaycee here
Arnie announced Our program next week is our leadership changeover. (Sofie is leaving for Belgium on the 20th-. Back end of July).) and Rotary Women Connect will meet June 12 at Old Scratch. 5:30pm.
Past President Biondo thanked all of today’s visitors, reminded all to BRING A FRIEND to Rotary, lead reciting of the 4-Way Test and wished all a good week.
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